Material handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A material handling apparatus which includes a pusher mechanism operating in conjunction with fixed and movable stops to individually separate elongated elements from a batch and to laterally feed each separated element into a given path.

United States Patent 11 1 Hill et al.

[ Aug. 7, 1973 [22] Filed:

[54] MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: William J. Hill, Holden; Kenneth L.

Klusmier, Worcester, both of Mass.

[73] Assignee: Morgan Construction Company,

Worcester, Mass.

May 1, 1972 1211 Appl. No.: 249,691

[52] US. Cl. 198/20 R, 198/34 R, 226/181 [51] Int. Cl. 365g 47/04 [58] Field of Search 214/1 P, 1 PB;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,315,880 4/1943 Stiles 198/32 2,926,767 3/1960 Bersa 198/20 X 3,195,737 7/1965 Melrose 214/] P FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 356,874 9/1931 Great Britain 198/24 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner Attorney-C. Yardley Chittick, Maurice E. Gouthier et a1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A material handling apparatus which includes a pusher mechanism operating in conjunction with fixed and movable stops to individually separate elongated elements from a batch and to laterally feed each separated element into a given path. 1

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Pmmww Hm I 3.150.199

SHEET 3 0f 3 1 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the art of material handling, and is particularly concerned with an improved apparatus for selecting individual elongated elements from a batch and for laterally feeding each element thus selected into a given. path. The invention overcomes the problem of selecting one elongated element from a batch of elements arranged in a generally parallel side by side formation. To this end, the elements are placed on a roller table, which is the preferred embodiment to be hereinafter described in greater detail, includes skewed driven rollers arranged to impart both axial and transverse motion to the elements. The axial motion is eventually limited by a first stop having a flat surface against which the front ends of the elements are aligned. Thereafter, the elements continue to move laterally across the first stop until the front end of the leading element moves past the end of the first stop. The leading element then continues axially past the first stop into engagement with a third stop. At this point, continued lateral movement of the leading element is arrested by a second disappearing stop which in its raised operative position is located between the first stop and the path into which each element is to be individually fed. The first stop is laterally adjustable with reference to the second stop so as to provide a gap therebetween which is wide enough for one element. Thus, when the leading element is in the "ready" position between the first and second stops and against the third stop, its further movement in both the axial andlateral directions is arrested, and it holds back all other elements in the batch.

At the appropriate time, the second stop is retracted and a pusher contacts the end of the leading element and pushes it laterally into the path. The pusher is then retracted and the second stop returned to its raised position as the next succeeding element advances to the ready position.

The invention is particularly useful in the handling of product lengths produced by a rolling mill, although it will be appreciated from the following description that other uses are also contemplated.

A more detailed description of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention now follows with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; j

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2; and, I

FIGS. 4-6a are schematic plan and sectional views depicting the apparatus in various stages of its operation.

Referring initially to FIGS..l 3, the apparatus 10 is shown located adjacent to a pathfl into which individual elongated elements are to be fed laterally. The apparatus includes delivery means in the form of conveyor chains 12, conical rollers 14. and cylindrical skewed rollers 16. The conveyor chains are supported by sprockets (not shown) and are driven continuously in a conventional manner in the direction indicated schematically by the arrow 18. The conical rollers 14 are disposed at an angle with respect to the feed direction 18 of the conveyor chains 12. The rollers 14 are driven by means (not shown) acting through suitable pinion gears contained in housings 20, the latter being interconnected by shafts 22 and couplings 24. The cy lindrical skewed rollers 16 are likewise disposed at an angle relative to the feed direction 18 of the conveyor is disposed at an acute angle in relation to the path P.

A second stop member 38 is located between the path P" and the end of the first stop member 34. The second stop member is movable by means (not shown) through a slot 40 in the table apron 32 between a raised operative position as shown in FIGS. 40, 4b and 6a, and a lowered inoperative position as shown in FIG. 5a. A third stop member 42 is fixed at a position downstream from the first stop member 34.

The apparatus further includes! a pusher means 44 which is movable laterally relative to the path "P" between an inoperative retracted position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 1 and anadvanced operative position indicated by the dot-dash lines at 44a. The pusher means is operated by a drive (not shown) contained within housing 46.

The apparatus may also include a drive means gener' ally indicated at 48 for propelling elongated elements along the path P." With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will'be seen that the drive means 48 includes a lower bed 50 having short pads 52 which slidably engagerails 54 on an underlying stationary base 56. The

bed 50 is movable laterally relative to the path P by means of a screw drive 58. The bed 50 further includes a pedestal 60 on which is mounted an upper support stand 62 for pivotal movement about a transverse shaft 64. A cylinder 66 is pivotally attached to the bed 50 as at 68 and has its extensible piston rod.70 connected to the upper support stand 62 as at 72. The upper support stand 62 carried a horizontally extending roll shaft 740 which is driven through a coupling by a motor 76. A second roll shaft 74b is carried on one end of an adjustable arm 78, the other end of which is keyed to a third shaft which is in turn journalled for rotation at the upper end of a support 82. A crank 84 is alsoattached to shaft 80. The lower end of crank 84 is con nected as at 85 to the extensible piston rod 85 of a second cylinder 88 pivotally mounted on the upper support stand 62 as at 90. The rollshafts 74aand 74b each have pinch rolls 92a and 92b.mounted thereon. The pinch rolls are shown in the closed "drive" position in FIG. 2. l i

The operation of the apparatus will now be described with additional reference to FIGS. 4 and 6A. At the stage shown in FIGS. 4 and ;4a, the delivery means (conveyor chains 12, conical rollers 14 and cylindrical rollers 16) have delivered several elongated elements A, and A, to positions abutting theangularlydisposed face 36 of the first stop member 34. Another element A, has passed between the first and second stop members 34 and 38 and is at rest against the third stop member 42. A fourth element A is beingdriven along the path P" by the cooperative action of the pinch rolls 92a and 92b. A fifth element A, is being carried by the delivery means towards the first stop member 34. As is best shown in FIG. 4a, when the pinch rolls 92a and 92b are operatively positioned, a product length gripped therebetween is lifted slightly above the level of table apron 32. It will also be observed that the second stop member 38 is at its raised operative position, thus preventing any lateral movement of subsequent product lengths into the path P."

Although not shown, it will be assumed for purposes of discussion that additional propelling rolls, for example those included as part of a straightening device, are located downstream from the apparatus along path After the product length A, has been fed into these additional rolls, the pinch rolls 92a and 92b are adjusted to their inoperative positions as shown in FIG. 4b. This is accomplished by retracting the piston rod 86 of cylinder 88 to pivotally raised the roll shaft 74b while simultaneously retracting the piston rod 70 of cylinder 66 to pivotally lower the upper support stand 62.

After the tail end of element A has cleared the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5, the path P" is clear and ready to accept the nest product length. At this point, the second stop member 38 is lowered as indicated in FIG. 5a. The next subsequent product length A is then pushed into the path P" by the pusher 44. Once this has been accomplished, the pinch rolls 92a and 92b are again closed by reverse operation of cylinders 88 and 60, thereby exerting a propelling force on the product length A The pusher 44 is immediately withdrawn, and the second stop member 38 is again elevated. While the product length A is being drive along path P, the next subsequent product length A, will move along the first stop member 34 under the influence of the delivery means and will eventually pass between the first and second stop members to come to rest against the third stop member 42. This condition is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 6a.

The above-described sequence of operation will be repeated each time a new product length is fed into the path P."

Having thus described the apparatus and its operation, the advantages to be derived therefrom will now be more readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. Of particular importance is the ability to select or separate individual elements from a batch and to control the lateral feeding of each element into a given path. The arrangement of the fixed stops 34, 42, the movable stop 38 and the pusher-44 is such that each element can be rapidly fed into the path P" as soon as the tail end of the preceeding element has cleared the apparatus. This insures minimum spacing between elements being processed further down the line. The distance between the first and second stops 34 and 38 can be adjusted to accommodate elements of varying width, and the pinch rolls 92a and 921: can be quickly changed to accommodate different cross sections. Thus the apparatus can be rapidly converted to handle other types of products such as for'example flats or rounds.

It is our intention to cover all changes and modifications of the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

We claim: I

1. Apparatus for feeding'elongated elements laterally into a given path, said apparatus comprising: delivery means on one side of said path for propelling elongated elements both forwardly and laterally towards said path while maintaining the elements substantially parallel to said path; a first stop member against which the front ends of the elements are drivenby said delivery means, the arrangement of said first stop member relative to said path being such that after coming into contact with said first stop member, the elongated elements continue to move laterally across the stop member towards said path; a second stop member between said path and said first stop member, said second stop member being spaced laterally from said first stop member so as to permit individual elongated elements to pass between said first and second stop members and to continue forwardly in a direction generally parallel to said path, a third stop member positioned downstream from said first stop member and against which individual elements passing between said first and second stop members comes to rest; means for moving said second stop member to an inoperative position, thereby freeing the elongated element engaging said third stop member for continued lateral movement toward said path; and, pusher means movable laterally between said first and third stop members for pushing the elongatedelement at rest against said third stop member laterally into said path.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first stop member includes a-flat front face against which the elongated elements are driven by said delivery means, said front face lying in a plane forming an acute angle with said path.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said first stop member being adjustably positioned in relation to said second stop member, thereby permitting the spacing between said first and second stop members to be varied in order to accommodate elongated elements having different widths.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said delivery means comprises: chain conveyor means for laterally transferring elongated elements arranged in a side by side relationship towards said path; tapered roller means for receiving elongated elements from said chain conveyor means, said tapered roller means being operative to propel the elongated elements both forwardly and laterally towards said path while gradually increasing the lateral distance between elements; and, cylindrical roller means positioned to receive elongated elements from said tapered roller means, said cylindrical roller means being operative to propel the elongated elements both forwardly and laterally towards said path while maintaining the lateral distance between elements relatively constant.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further characterized by drive means at said path for axially propelling elongated elements pushed laterally into said path by said pusher means.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein each elongated elements is supported at said path on said cylindrical roller means, and wherein said drive means includes upper and lower pinch rolls, at least one of said pinch rolls being driven, said drive means further including means for opening said pinch rolls to inoperative positions spaced vertically above and-below said path when receiving an elongated element pushed laterally into said path by said pusher means, and for thereafter closing said pinch rolls to engage and propel an elongated element along said path.

7. Apparatus for feeding elongated elements laterally into a path, comprising: a first stop member positioned on one side of and extending in a direction generally transverse to said path; delivery means for advancing a plurality of elongated elements to a position abutting said first stop member, the elements thereafter continuing to move across said first stop member towards said path; a second stop member positioned between said path and said first stop member to prevent continued movement of elongated elements towards said path, said second stop member being spaced laterally from said first stop member to permit forwardaxial movement therebetween of a single elongated element; a third stop member for arresting continued forward first stop member laterally into said path. 

1. Apparatus for feeding elongated elements laterally into a given path, said apparatus comprising: delivery means on one side of said path for propelling elongated elements both forwardly and laterally towards said path while maintaining the elements substantially parallel to said path; a first stop member against which the front ends of the elements are driven by said delivery means, the arrangement of said first stop member relative to said path being such that after coming into contact with said first stop member, the elongated elements continue to move laterally across the stop member towards said path; a second stop member between said path and said first stop member, said second stop member being spaced laterally from saiD first stop member so as to permit individual elongated elements to pass between said first and second stop members and to continue forwardly in a direction generally parallel to said path, a third stop member positioned downstream from said first stop member and against which individual elements passing between said first and second stop members comes to rest; means for moving said second stop member to an inoperative position, thereby freeing the elongated element engaging said third stop member for continued lateral movement toward said path; and, pusher means movable laterally between said first and third stop members for pushing the elongated element at rest against said third stop member laterally into said path.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first stop member includes a flat front face against which the elongated elements are driven by said delivery means, said front face lying in a plane forming an acute angle with said path.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said first stop member being adjustably positioned in relation to said second stop member, thereby permitting the spacing between said first and second stop members to be varied in order to accommodate elongated elements having different widths.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said delivery means comprises: chain conveyor means for laterally transferring elongated elements arranged in a side by side relationship towards said path; tapered roller means for receiving elongated elements from said chain conveyor means, said tapered roller means being operative to propel the elongated elements both forwardly and laterally towards said path while gradually increasing the lateral distance between elements; and, cylindrical roller means positioned to receive elongated elements from said tapered roller means, said cylindrical roller means being operative to propel the elongated elements both forwardly and laterally towards said path while maintaining the lateral distance between elements relatively constant.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further characterized by drive means at said path for axially propelling elongated elements pushed laterally into said path by said pusher means.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein each elongated elements is supported at said path on said cylindrical roller means, and wherein said drive means includes upper and lower pinch rolls, at least one of said pinch rolls being driven, said drive means further including means for opening said pinch rolls to inoperative positions spaced vertically above and below said path when receiving an elongated element pushed laterally into said path by said pusher means, and for thereafter closing said pinch rolls to engage and propel an elongated element along said path.
 7. Apparatus for feeding elongated elements laterally into a path, comprising: a first stop member positioned on one side of and extending in a direction generally transverse to said path; delivery means for advancing a plurality of elongated elements to a position abutting said first stop member, the elements thereafter continuing to move across said first stop member towards said path; a second stop member positioned between said path and said first stop member to prevent continued movement of elongated elements towards said path, said second stop member being spaced laterally from said first stop member to permit forward axial movement therebetween of a single elongated element; a third stop member for arresting continued forward axial movement of an elongated element passing between said first and second stop members, the position of said third stop member being such that the forward end of an elongated element in contact therewith protrudes beyond said first stop member; means for moving said second stop member to an inoperative position permitting continued lateral movement of the elongated element abutting said third stop member towards said path, and, pusher means for pushing thE forward end of the elongated element protruding beyond said first stop member laterally into said path. 